A 21 year old woman found guilty of killing her newborn baby was given a suspended sentence by the Suva High Court this morning.

High Court Judge Justice Priyantha Fernando while sentencing Maria Tawake stated that she put an end to the life of her new born child by putting a piece of gauze in her mouth when she was duty bound to protect the child as a mother.

Justice Fernando highlighted that on June 21st 2007, Tawake experienced labour pain and went to the CWM hospital but she did not get proper attention from the staff and delivered the baby in the labour ward toilet.

The Judge noted that Tawake then stuffed gauze into the baby's mouth to stop the baby from crying.

He said since she was scared of the nurses, she left the baby inside the rubbish bin in the hospital.

Judge Fernando also took into account that the offence was committed three years ago and Tawake is now married and has a child who is more than one year old.

He says they have no evidence of Tawake having any mental disorder or imbalance for the last three years and sentenced her to 1 year imprisonment suspended for two years.

She was initially charged with murder but the assessors and the Judge found her guilty of infanticide during the trial.


Story By: Shalvin/Roneel